With basketball having such small team sizes (5 compared to soccer’s 11), it is pivotal that each player does their job well. But for Small Forwards, that means filling in for whichever position is lacking. Also termed the ‘Swiss Army Knife’ of basketball, SFs are expected to be versatile and be able to do a little bit of everything.
That’s why having a good SF, or being one, on your team is essential. Today, we’ll be going over the top 3 SF builds in NBA 2K26. These builds will vary in attribute point allocation; some might prioritize making plays while others hang back on defense. But they’re all top-tier builds for SFs. Stick around to find out which build is ideal for you.
Best Small Forward Builds In NBA 2K26
Physical Clamp Thief (6’8”)
The first build is a fan favorite in NBA 2K26, as it is one of the most balanced builds available. Unlike guards, SF should be able to hold the backline, and that’s exactly what this build does. Sacrificing a bit of offense for better Defense and Physical attributes, the Physical Clamp Thief build isn’t about to let anyone past.
Start with these body proportions:
- Position: Physical Clamp Thief
- Height: 6’7”
- Weight: 216 lbs
- Wingspan: 7’0”
Here’s how your attribute spread should look to complement this build:
-
Finishing
- Close Shot: 62
- Driving Layup: 53
- Driving Dunk: 73
- Standing Dunk: 72
- Post Control: 50
-
Shooting
- Mid-Range Shot: 71
- Three-Point Shot: 81
- Free Throw: 74
-
Playmaking
- Pass Accuracy: 65
- Ball Handle: 55
- Speed With Ball: 60
-
Defense
- Interior Defense: 82
- Perimeter Defense: 94
- Steal: 94
- Block: 78
-
Rebounding
- Offensive Rebound: 70
- Defensive Rebound: 62
-
Physicals
- Speed: 85
- Agility: 86
- Strength: 85
- Vertical: 74
- Build Specialization: Shooting
- Cap Breakers Required: Variable
You’re probably wondering how a build can function with such low Pass Accuracy and Ball Handling. Here’s the breakdown.
The main aim of the Physical Clamp Thief build is lockdown. This build focuses on heavy lockdown and player focus, especially if you’re going up against top-tier guards. First, let’s take a look at the defense statistics. You want both Steal and Perimeter Defense at 94 initially to get those gold Defense badges. The main ones you’ll be focusing on are Immovable Enforcer (Gold), Challenger (HOF), and On-Ball Menace (HOF). Not only that, but you should definitely consider using Cap Breakers on either stat to get them to 96, unlocking new tiers.
For both Immovable Enforcer and On-Ball Menace, you need Physical attributes as well, namely Agility and Strength, which is why they’re so high. Speed at 85 is both necessary as a stat on the field and for Slippery Off-Ball (Gold). All of this, combined with adequate rebound stats, will make sure your lockdown capabilities aren’t left lacking. You don’t need as much Pass Accuracy or Ball Handle with this build because that isn’t your primary job when running this build.
Finally, let’s touch on your Shooting and Finishing Stats. The reason we recommend going with a Shooting build specialization has to do with Cap Breaker mechanics. If you’ve gotten a good understanding of Cap Breakers, you know that the lower a stat is, the greater increase it will see with Cap Breakers. With TPS at 81, you’re likely to gain more stats through Cap Breakers than using them on 94 P.Defense or Steal. However, you can still mix things up according to your playstyle.
Shot-Erasing 3-Level Scorer (6’9”)
If you’re not comfortable with relying on your teammates as much for offense, perhaps you’ll like the Shot-Erasing 3-Level Scorer better. This build prioritizes offense while still having a strong hold on both Defense and Physical attributes. Let’s see how it works.
Go with these options on the body size selection screen:
- Position: Small Forward
- Height: 6’9”
- Weight: 188 lbs
- Wingspan: 6’9”
For your attributes, here’s how you should allocate points:
-
Finishing
- Close Shot: 84
- Driving Layup: 80
- Driving Dunk: 89
- Standing Dunk: 54
- Post Control: 55
-
Shooting
- Mid-Range Shot: 89
- Three-Point Shot: 87
- Free Throw: 82
-
Playmaking
- Pass Accuracy: 60
- Ball Handle: 75
- Speed With Ball: 75
-
Defense
- Interior Defense: 70
- Perimeter Defense: 83
- Steal: 60
- Block: 84
-
Rebounding
- Offensive Rebound: 74
- Defensive Rebound: 75
-
Physicals
- Speed: 83
- Agility: 78
- Strength: 73
- Vertical: 78
- Build Specialization: Finishing
- Cap Breakers Required: 3
As you can see, it’s a pretty even stat spread across the board with a very slight inclination towards Finishing and Shooting. Let’s see how it works.
Before we get into the offensive prowess, we’re going to talk about the other stats and what badges you want to aim for. With OREB/DREB, you only have two badges, and those are Boxout Beast and Rebound Chaser. Boxout Beast (Silver) is pretty good for this build, especially if you put a Max +2 on it for HOF-tier. P.Defense at 83 unlocks both Off-Ball Pest (Gold) and Pick Dodger (Silver). Using +2 Cap Breakers will further On-Ball Menace (Silver), a useful badge for SFs.
Other than those, you have your Finishing and Shooting stats that we focused on a bit more. Now, these stats are a bit spread out across different skills such as Driving Dunk, MRS, and TPS. This is to ensure you’re not bound to a particular playstyle with this build. You can add Cap Breakers wherever you feel necessary or where they fit your playstyle better. Getting TPS high is always beneficial since it can unlock a variety of badges like Limitless Shooter and Set Shot Specialist. You’re also free to use Max +1s as you see fit in this build.
2-Way 3PT Slasher (6’8”)
Our final build in NBA 2K26 is the 2-Way 3PT Slasher. An all-around build for SFs that want more versatility and agency on the court. You can always switch playstyles mid-match if you find a position lacking, making it a top build for SFs.
Here’s how you should start the build:
- Position: Small Forward
- Height: 6’8”
- Weight: 193 lbs
- Wingspan: 6’9”
As for your attribute point allocation, this is the guide you should follow:
-
Finishing
- Close Shot: 69
- Driving Layup: 71
- Driving Dunk: 89
- Standing Dunk: 49
- Post Control: 51
-
Shooting
- Mid-Range Shot: 80
- Three-Point Shot: 88
- Free Throw: 73
-
Playmaking
- Pass Accuracy: 72
- Ball Handle: 86
- Speed With Ball: 80
-
Defense
- Interior Defense: 70
- Perimeter Defense: 85
- Steal: 73
- Block: 78
-
Rebounding
- Offensive Rebound: 70
- Defensive Rebound: 55
-
Physicals
- Speed: 85
- Agility: 80
- Strength: 73
- Vertical: 80
- Build Specialization: Shooting
- Cap Breakers Required: Variable
This build might look similar to the previous one, but there are a few stat changes you should keep in mind.
The 2-Way 3PT Slasher can work as multiple playstyles, whether you favour going for the dunk or hitting those 3-pointers. With 89 in Driving Dunk, you unlock Aerial Wizard (HOF) and Posterizer (Silver). Posterizer is an important badge if you want to go for highlight dunks, so make sure to hit it with some Max +2s if that’s what you’re specializing in. We explained the benefits of increasing your TPS in the last build breakdown, and the same applies here. Upgrading TPS will always be a good idea for offensive roles, as it unlocks all Shooting badges.
This build also gives you a fair amount of Ball Handle and Speed with Ball. While it’s nothing crazy, the adequate stats in both skills provide you with Lightning Launch (Silver), Ankle Assassin (Silver), and Handle for Days (Silver). Not the most impressive badges, but they’ll definitely add that extra edge to get the ball through. The rest of the playmaking relies on your PG.
P.Defense is a stat every SF should have at least 85 or above. This build satisfies that requirement, as with an 85 in P.Defense, your character will receive Challenger (Silver). Other badges that improve your playstyle include High-Flying Denier (Silver) and Interceptor (Silver). While these are both silver-tier badges, you always have the option to experiment with your Max +1s and +2s. As you can see, this is an incredibly versatile build that can easily be changed up without too much of an issue.
